Israeli Media Rapped for Trying to Interfere in Religious Life

An official of the Education Ministry attacked the media for “trying to interfere in religious life and dictate the nature of co-existence” between religious and secular elements in Israel.

Yaacov Hadani, director of the Ministry’s religious education department, warned against “indifference among religious Jews in the wake of leftist dictatorship in the media.” He spoke at a national conference of rabbis convened here last week by the Center for Religious Education in Israel.

EXPANDED RELIGIOUS EDUCATION URGED

Mordechai Eliahu and Avraham Shapiro, the Sephardic and Ashkenzic Chief Rabbis of Israel, respectively, urged expanded religious education in Israel’s schools to combat “violence and permissiveness.” Shapiro called on rabbis to become more involved in the educational system to make sure that every child receives a religious education.

Hadani said that rabbis must make sure that “everywhere in the country there will be Torah students who obey the mitzvot.” Those who do not should be expelled from religious educational institutions, he said.

He also maintained that parent’s committees have no right to change “religious principles.” He was referring to the objections by parents in a Jerusalem elementary school against the practice of separate classes for boys and girls.